The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

Over Labor Day week-end I had a wedding for 450 at Whitetail Golf Course and Club in McCall. The ceremony was held under a big tent on the golf course with the reception at Whitetail Club. The bride and her parents arrived at the ceremony by horse-drawn carriage. The couple left by carriage and traveled to the marina where they boarded a boat for their arrival at Whitetail. It was a most memorable day. This is booking season for next summer's events. If things continue to go as they are now, it should be another great year. Several new locations are entering the market and they are greatly needed. We look forward to more unique events like this one.

Planning a wedding in the mountains of Idaho is currently a "hot" media topic. Treasure Magazine , a publication of the Idaho Statesman, published a lengthy article on mountain weddings in their Spring/Summer issue. Two couples were profiled, both of whom were married in the Stanley area. I helped plan and coordinated one of the weddings and consulted with the bride on the other one. Several of photographer Chris Butler's photos illustrated the article. Another magazine, Idaho Resort Weddings , will be published in the fall and handed out at area wedding shows. The magazine will feature articles on planning weddings at several of Idaho's resorts. I wrote an article on planning a wilderness wedding. If you are thinking about planning a wedding in the mountains, you may want to look for both publications. Planning a mountain wedding takes a huge amount of pre-planning and coordination to make it happen successfully, but the results can be awesome.

This is the height of event season. Nearly every week-end is busy except for a couple this month. Since it was supposed to be 104 degrees on Saturday (it was actually 107), I will be more than happy to spend the day with company and not out in the heat. Calls are coming in for next year and it is looking like another great year. If you are planning a family reunion, wedding, or company event, don't wait to book a location or start your planning.

Are you getting cabin fever, wondering when winter will end? If so, you can add some fun to your calendar by planning a progressive dinner for a group of family or friends. Perhaps you belong to a club or a church group that would enjoy this special social gathering. A progressive dinner is one in which the various courses of the meal are served at different homes or locations, such as a church or club. You will need at least three homes in which to briefly meet. You can use additional homes if you would like. Assuming that you use three locations, the first stop will be for appetizers/soup/salad. The entree will be served at the second home, followed by dessert and perhaps a short program or social activity at the last home or location. Divide the attendees into groups and ask each to bring an item to contribute to one portion of the meal. You may need to assign more people to the entree portion than to other courses. Guests will arrive at the first home where they will...

This whopping 5-pounds of fudge molded in a bundt cake pan was first served at a fund-raising event in Baton Rouge, LA in 1990. It is guaranteed to be the talk of the party. Here's the recipe: 4 1/2 cups sugar 12-ounce can evaporated milk 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), melted (do not use margarine) pinch of salt 3 six-ounce packages of semi-sweet chocolate chips (18 ounces total) 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme 1 tablespoon vanilla 4 cups pecans, chopped Mix sugar, milk, butter and salt in a large heavy pan. Stir well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 8 minutes on low, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, and vanilla. Stir until everything is melted and is well blended. Stir in the pecans. Quickly pour mixture into a bundt pan that has been well sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. (This works best when a thin, flexible pan is used.) To serve, place the pan in a few inches of hot water in th...

The Wedding Party Show, Boise's oldest and largest wedding show has come and gone and what a show it was. Nearly 900 brides streamed through in two days and they were in a buying mood. Usually, calls trickle in over a period of weeks and months. Not this time. I booked 4 weddings the day after the show ended and have booked two more since. And the show ended only three days ago! If the response is any indication, this will be a great year for events.

Cookies and holidays go together. This is the time of year when families pull out their favorite cookie recipes even if they haven't baked all year. You can add to your recipe collection and try new cookies by organizing a cookie exchange. The exchange can be its own special event or it can be combined with another holiday activity. If you would like to get to know your neighbors, invite them over for coffee and cookies and add a cookie exchange. Or plan one at your church to coincide with a hoilday program or coffee hour. You might also arrange to exchange cookies with your work associates during the lunch hour one day. To plan an exchange, ask each person or family to bring homemade cookies (no store-bought ones, please) to munch and a dozen cookies on a separate plate to exchange. The host can provide paper plates and perhaps large zip-lock bags as well. Then, each family or person who brought cookies goes around and chooses a dozen cookies to take home. The biggest problem will...

If you plan to invite many guests to your event, chances are most will arrive by car and they will need a place to park. Many hotels and conference centers have parking lots. Others are located in areas where on-street parking is available. If your facility doesn't have adequate parking, you may need to rent a trolley, van, or bus to transport guests from and back to their hotel or a public parking area. If you are planning an event to be held at a private home, street parking may not be an option for a large number of cars. If the cars block a narrow street, they could be ticketed and even towed for blocking a fire lane (this actually happened at an event held in McCall). Be sure to check with neighbors and with the fire department if you are planning an event at a private home. If your event will be held at a college, university, or a business that allows only students or employees who have permits to park in their lot, you will need to contact the school or business and o...

Every event can be enhanced by music. Whether you are planning a backyard barbeque, a wedding or reception, or a formal dinner, music will add to the ambiance of the event. The type of music you choose should reflect the formality of the event and the overall mood you want to create. Your budget will also be a consideration. Hiring a band is the most expensive option and the price will vary by the number of musicians in the group. You can choose anything from a three-piece blue grass group to a 15 member swing or jazz band. A band offers less flexibility than a DJ. Most play for 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute break. If you plan to have toasts or make any type of announcements, those activities usually occur during the band's breaks. A band is great for events at which the primary activity will be dancing. If you are planning a wedding, you might choose to hire a string trio or quartet, a brass ensemble, a harpist, or several guitarists to play for the ceremony. If you have a chu...

Fall is the perfect time to hold a block party. School is in session; vacations are over; the days are no longer miserably hot. You can host the party or you can co-host it with some of your neighbors. If you live in a cul-de-sac, you might close the street and party in it (be sure to check with the police and fire department first). If you live on a conventional street, then have the party in someone's yard. Set up games, such as volley ball, croquet, or bad minton, to attract the younger crowd. You may need to make it a BYOLC party - bring your own lawn chair - to have enough seating, or spread blankets on the grass. Be sure to provide munchies and something to drink. It might be as simple as cookies or you might have a barbeque and ask guests to bring a dish to share. The party is a good time to get acquainted with your neighbors and to also conduct any neighborhood "business." You might discuss safety or crime issues, set up a neighborhood watch program, or make plans...

The Idaho Business Review will publish their annual Holiday Party & Catering Guide in the October 24th issue. This special focus section is designed to give readers tips and suggestions on the who, what, when, and where of holiday event planning. If you are planning a company holiday party or a personal one, you will find all the resources you need, as well as informative articles. If your business doesn't receive the Idaho Business Review , check their web site ( www.idahobusiness.net/ ) for information. It isn't too late to begin planning your party, so don't delay.

It's that time of year - time for football games and tailgate parties. Tailgating has become a national obsession. It is a great way to socialize and meet new friends as you prepare for the big game. Men who never cook at home create and serve a special dish that becomes their signature fare. Women raid their cookbooks and recipe boxes looking for scrumptious dishes to share. The name "tailgate party" is named for the tailgate of a pickup truck, which is the traditional vehicle used for the party. If you or a friend don't own a pickup, don't despair. An SUV or a van will work just as well, since you won't be cooking in the vehicle. You will, however, need to transport grills or stoves, coolers, tables and chairs, so you need a good-sized vehicle. Today, many tailgaters bring tables, chairs, and canopies to expand the available space and make cooking easier. If you have never tailgated before, here are a few things to consider. First, invite a group of friends ...

Yesterday I coordinated an event to which 180 people returned their RSVPs indicating they would attend. However, when the event occurred, only 85 guests were present. Think of the food that was ordered and not consumed, of the unused space that was rented, the tables, chairs, and linens that were needed to accommodate 180 people. Think of the money the hosts lost needlessly because of the thoughtlessness of their friends. This situation is becoming increasingly common the last couple of years. It isn't just a few people who fail to attend, but as many as 1/3 of the guest list or more. When the hosts go through their invitation lists, they discover that most of the no-shows are work associates or casual acquaintances. Certainly emergencies occur at the last minute, but surely 95 people didn't all have emergencies yesterday. The problem is more likely caused by co-workers who say they will attend, but when the day arrives their spouse balks at attending an event where they don...

It's not too late to plan a company picinic yet this summer. Having a picnic or another social event is a good way to thank your employees for their hard work during the year. It also provides an opportunity to get acquainted with the families of your employees and to relate to one another in a non-work environment. Socializing together builds relationships between employees as well. You might plan a simple pot luck or barbeque at a park or arrange for an evening at Roaring Springs. You can also host an evening at a Boise Hawks baseball game. The options are limited only by your time, budget, and the number of people you will entertain. It is also not too soon to begin thinking about your company's holiday party. While most summer activities are family oriented, a holiday party is more often attended by only your employees and their spouses or significant others. Some company owners or managers choose to host a party at their home. Others arrange for dinner and perhaps dancing ...

If you are planning an event involving a large number of participants or guests, such as a family reunion or a wedding, you may want to create a web site or a blog as a way to keep everyone informed. Anyone with computer savvy can create a blog and you don't need much more expertise to create a simple web site. A web site or blog can include the date and location of the event, lodging information, planned activities, and much more. You can post photos, and if you are planning a wedding, registry information (which you should not include in an invitation). Guests can RSVP on the web site or blog. They can add comments as well. If you are planning a wedding, you can create a free web page at either www.weddingchannel.com or at www.theknot.com . Family and guests will appreciate the opportunity to be informed and you may generate more interest in attending your event.

The U.S. State Department issued new travel requirements that will affect anyone planning a trip outside the U.S. Effective 12/31/05, anyone planning a trip to or returning from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, and Canada will need to have a passport or another approved secure document. Effective 12/31/06, travelers to and from Mexico and Canada will need a passport. After 12/31/07, a passport will be required to travel anywhere outside the borders of the U.S. The new requirements, which are aimed at fighting terrorism, will have a major impact on business and leisure travel, including travel for honeymoons and destination weddings and anniversary celebrations. Those who are taking a cruise to any ports in the Caribbean are affected as well. If you are considering such a trip, you won't want to wait to apply for a passport. Otherwise, you may be caught in the logjam of applicants that are expected near the end of the year.

If you were recently married, would you be willing to test your commitment to one another on national TV? A local couple did when they agreed to participate in a newlywed version of Fear Factor. One of the tasks involved eating a wedding cake made of live grubs, bugs, and crocodile eyes (yes, you read correctly). They had to chew the "cake" then spit the juice into a toasting flute. When the flute was filled to a certain level, they had to drink it. Ugh!!! They also participated in other challenging, and much less gross, activities. The couple feels their experience brought them closer together as they learned to rely on each other and work together. Personally, I can think of other ways to learn to work with and rely on my spouse, but to each their own.

Every couple of years the issue of kickbacks surfaces in our local event planning community. A kickback is a fee paid by a vendor to another vendor or facility for the "privilege" of doing business with them. This is not yet a problem in the Boise area, but it is becoming increasingly common in other areas of the country and is beginning to rear its ugly head here. The Better Business Bureau considers the practice unethical and we agree. Here is how it works. A facility might offer an event planner or a caterer a kickback on the amount that you, the client, pays for the rental of a facility. This kickback is paid to encourage the planner or caterer to persuade you to choose one facility over another because the planner or caterer will personally benefit from your choice (without your knowledge, of course). Therefore, you might be encouraged to choose a facility that charges $2,000 over a facility that charges $1,500 because a portion of the $2,000 fee will be returned to y...

If you enjoy a good mystery, you will enjoy the Wedding Planner mystery novels written by Boise author Deborah Donnelly. Deborah's newest book, the 4th in the series and set in Sun Valley, was released last week. Deborah will be signing copies of her book during First Thursday on May 5th at Book and Game on Main Street and on Saturday at Barnes and Noble.

Every event needs food but what kind and how much is up to you. Most events end with a dessert of some type, so why not make it spectatular. No longer is cake the first dessert of choice. Whether you are planning a wedding, an anniversary party, or a special birthday celebration, serve the dessert you or the guest of honor likes most. It might be pie, cheesecake, or a buffet of mini bite-sized desserts. If you love ice cream, serve ice cream sandwiches or ice cream baked potatoes. One of the latest dessert sensations is the French croquembouche. This spectactular dessert is actually a tower of individual cream puffs held together with a light caramel glaze. You might fill the puffs with traditional vanilla cream or with chocolate cream or another flavored cream of your choice. We served this dessert at a wedding, to the delight of the guests, particularly the men. Your guests will love your innovative choice, no matter what it might be.